SMBC Aviation Capital reports continued strong performance in the financial year ended 31 March 2026

Dublin, 27 May 2026: SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies, today announces its results (1) for the financial year ended 31 March 2026.

FY 2025 highlights – continued strong financial and operational performance, delivering on strategy and positioning the business for further success

• Profit before tax of $707 million PBT up 20% year-on-year when adjusted for receipt of Russian insurance settlement proceeds in each period

• $3.4 billion of aircraft delivered across 59 new aircraft, 90% placed through Q1 2028; additional $3.3 billion new leasing agreements signed during the period

• Lease revenue of $1.973 billion, up $38 million year-on-year, driven by strong aircraft placement

• Servicing fee income of $36.7 million, up $19 million year-on-year driven by actively serviced portfolio growth

• Record trading performance with $2.6 billion of aircraft sales across 74 aircraft; additional $2.6 billion commitments for aircraft trading in FY2026

• New technology aircraft now represent 80% of owned fleet driven by combination of new leasing and trading activities 

• Diversified funding sources with $3.7 billion syndicated bank facility (following upsize); robust balance sheet with liquidity of over $15 billion at 31 March 2026

Post-period, SMBC Aviation Capital and its co-investors completed the transformational acquisition of Sumisho Air Lease Corporation, positioning SMBC Aviation Capital as one of the leading global aviation platforms with:

• 1,700 owned, serviced and committed aircraft with over 170 airline customers

• $89 billion of owned, serviced and committed assets

• Large-scale 430 aircraft new tech orderbook valued at $26 billion, 90% forward placed through Q1 2028

• Expanded service offering, with SMBC Aviation Capital becoming servicer to Sumisho Air Lease’s portfolio

Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, commented:

"FY2025 was one of the most significant years in SMBC Aviation Capital's 25-year history. We delivered strong underlying profit growth, capitalised on robust leasing and trading demand and continued to build one of the highest-quality portfolios in the sector. Our orderbook, which comprises the sector’s largest pipeline of new aircraft delivering this decade, is in high demand and will be a key driver our portfolio growth and quality for years to come.

The completion of the Sumisho Air Lease acquisition has transformed our business and the wider sector. It places SMBC Aviation Capital at the centre of the world's leading aviation financing platform, providing the scale, product breadth and capital strength to meet the evolving needs of our customers and deliver value for our investors."

Aisling Kenny, CFO of SMBC Aviation Capital, commented: 

"Our underlying financial performance over the year remained strong, with lease revenues growing to just under $2 billion and adjusted pre-tax income increasing $114 million year-on-year to $677 million. The business capitalised on robust secondary market demand, executing $2.6 billion of aircraft sales, with a further $2.6 billion committed for the year ahead. We also continued to access a diverse range of financing sources, and we enter the new financial year with deep liquidity and one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector, reflecting the continued confidence of our funding partners and shareholders."

(1) The financial and non-financial metrics disclosed for the period relate to SMBC Aviation Capital’s Irish entity and its subsidiaries.

CONTACTS: 

Media:

Conor Irwin, SMBC Aviation Capital                +353 87 381 6106

Richard Webster-Smith, FGS Global               +44 20 7251 3801

Richard Crowley, FGS Global                          +44 20 7251 3801

Investors:

Shane St Ledger, SMBC Aviation Capital        +353 86 173 0599

ABOUT SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL:

SMBC Aviation Capital is the leading global aviation finance platform, servicing a fleet of 1700 aircraft with 170 airlines globally. Benefiting from the strong support of its shareholders Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital has a high-quality global airline customer base with an owned portfolio comprising 80% new technology aircraft (by net book value). SMBC Aviation Capital has a strong capital position and holds an A- and BBB+ rating with S&P and Fitch respectively, reflecting the long-term strength of its business. For more information, please visit: https://www.smbc.aero/

Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital